Judge Paves Historic Path For Convicts To Get Jobs

In his last days serving on the federal bench in Brooklyn, U.S. District Judge John Gleeson issued the first ever federal certificate of rehabilitation, creating a blueprint to ease the path for federal convicts to secure jobs. Though more than a dozen states have issued similar certifications, meant to help establish that an ex-offender has moved on from his or her criminal past, there was no federal equivalent until Gleeson created it. The document can help reformed citizens find employment, secure places to live, and may exempt recipients from collateral consequences of criminal convictions. Judge Gleeson’s certificate was created for a nurse who was convicted of fraud 13 years ago, and still struggled to find work. Drafting and issuing the certificate was one of Gleeson’s last acts before stepping down to join Debevoise & Plimpton LLP.